Common Medical Abbreviations A A.A.R.O.M. A.B.G. a.c. A/C add ADA Diet A.D.L. A.Fib. AKA ALS AMA A&O A/P A.R.O.M. ASAP Active assistive range of motion Arterial blood gas before meals Assist Control Adduction American Diabetes Association Diet activities of daily living arterial fibrillation Above Knee Amputation or above the knee amputation amyotrophic lateral sclerosis against medical advice alert and oriented anterior-posterior active range of motion as soon as possible B b.i.d. BKA B.L.BS bm BM BMR BP BR bs BS B/S bx twice a day Below Knee Amputation bilateral breath sounds bowel movement bone marrow basal metabolism rate blood pressure bed rest bowel sounds breath Sounds bedside biopsy C C C with (c with bar above it) Celsius, centigrade C1, C2, etc. CA CA, ca CABG CAD cal cath CBC cc CC CHF CCU CHI cm CMT CN CNA CNS c/o COTA cont COPD CPAP CPR CRF CRNP CSF CT CV first cervical vertebrae, second etc. cardiac arrest carcinoma coronary artery bypass graft coronary artery disease calorie catheter complete blood count cubic centimeter chief complaint congestive heart failure, chronic heart failure coronary care unit closed head injury centimeter continuing medication and treatment cranial nerve certified nursing assistant central nervous system complains of certified occupational therapy assistant continue(d) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease continuous positive airway pressure cardiopulmonary resuscitation chronic renal failure certified registered nurse practitioner cerebrospinal fluid computerized tomography cardiovascular This list has been compiled as a resource for ASHA members. The list has not been officially reviewed or approved by ASHA and therefore may be modified as desired by speech-language pathologists or their employment setting. CVA CXR cerebral vascular accident chest X-ray D d d/c DC DNK DNKA DNR DNT DOA DOB DOE d/t Dx day discontinue discharge do not know did not keep appointment do not resuscitate did not test dead on arrival date of birth dyspnea on exertion due to diagnosis E ECC, EKG ED EEG EENT EMG ENT ER ETOH exam ext electrocardiogram emergency department electroencephalogram eye, ear nose, throat electromyogram ear, nose, throat emergency room ethanol (alcohol) examination external, exterior F F FH fib fl, fld FOB f/u FWB Fx Fahrenheit family history fibrillation fluid foot of bed follow-up full weight bearing fracture G GB GCS GE GERD G/E gen gest. G.I. GNA gluc GP GSW GTT Gt. tr. GYN gall bladder Glasgow Coma Scale Gastroenterology gastroesophageal reflux disease gastroenteritis general gestation gastrointestinal geriatric nursing assistant glucose general practitioner, general paralysis gun shot wound glucose tolerance test gait training gynecology H h H/A HAV Hb. HB HBP h.d. HEENT H20 h/o HOB H&P HR HTN HVD Hx Hz hour headache Hepatitis A Virus hemoglobin heart block high blood pressure at bedtime head, eyes, ear, nose, throat water history of head of bed history and physical heart rate hypertension hypertensive vascular disease history Hertz (cycles/second) This list has been compiled as a resource for ASHA members. The list has not been officially reviewed or approved by ASHA and therefore may be modified as desired by speech-language pathologists or their employment setting. I ICCU ICP ICU imp. incr. inf inspire int. I&O IPPB irreg. IV intensive coronary care unit intracranial pressure intensive care unit impression increased(ing) infusion, inferior inspiration, inspiratory internal intake and output intermittent positive pressure breathing irregular intravenous(ly) J J jt. joint joint K K L L potassium, kidney L&W living and well M m,M max. MBC MBSS MCA MD mdnt. med. mets. MG MI min MICU mod MRI married, male, mother murmur, meter, mass, molar maximum, maxillary maximum breathing capacity modified barium swallow study middle cerebral artery muscular dystrophy midnight medicine metastasis myasthenia gravis myocardial infarction minute medical intensive care unit moderate magnetic resonance imaging methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus massage motor vehicle accident left, liver, liter, lower, MRSA light, lumbar L2, L3 second, third lumbar mss vertebrae MVA lab laboratory lac. laceration N lat. lateral n. nerve LBW low birth rate Na sodium L.E. lower extremities NaCl sodium chloride liq. liquid NAD no abnormality detected L.O.C. loss of consciousness, NAD no apparent distress level of consciousness, neg. negative laxative of choice neur. neurology LOS length of stay NG nasogastric LP lumbar puncture NIC neonatal intensive care LPN licensed practical nurse NICU neonatal intensive care LUE left upper extremity unit Lx larynx This list has been compiled as a resource for ASHA members. The list has not been officially reviewed or approved by ASHA and therefore may be modified as desired by speech-language pathologists or their employment setting. NKA no. NOS NPO NSA NST N&V NVD N&W NWB NYD no known allergies number not otherwise specified nothing by mouth no specific abnormality non-stress test nausea and vomiting nausea, vomiting, diarrhea normal and well non-weight bearing not yet diagnosed O o O O2 O2 cap. O2 sat. OA OB, OBG OB/GYN Gynecology Obs OBS none, without oral oxygen oxygen capacity oxygen saturation osteoarthritis Obstetrics Obstetrics and O/E OH OHD oint. O.M. O.M.E. OOB, oob Op. ot. Oto OTC on examination occupational history organic heart disease ointment otitis media otitis media with effusion out of bed operation ear Otolaryngology over-the-counter (pharmaceuticals) occupational therapy, old tuberculin operating room O.T. OR P PA p&a PACU PAF palp. Path PA view p/c., p.c. pdr. PDN PE Ped. PEEP PEG PET observation organic brain syndrome PH pharm PHYS. PI PICU PID plts. P.M. PMH PMN PN P&N pneu. physician’s assistant percussion and auscultation post anesthesia care unit paroxysmal atrial fibrillation palpate, palpated, palpable Pathology posterior-anterior view on x-ray after meals powder private duty nurse physical exam, pulmonary embolism Pediatrics positive end expiratory pressure percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy positron emission tomography past history pharmacy physical, physiology present illness, pulmonary insufficiency pulmonary intensive care unit pelvic inflammatory disease platelets afternoon, post-mortem past medical history physical medicine and rehabilitation poorly nourished, practical nurse Psychiatry and Neurology pneumo, pneumonia This list has been compiled as a resource for ASHA members. The list has not been officially reviewed or approved by ASHA and therefore may be modified as desired by speech-language pathologists or their employment setting. PNI PNX p.o. p.o.d. pos. post. POSTOP. pot. or potass. PR pre-op prep. p.r.m. p.r.n., PRN prod. Prog. PROM pron. prosth. PSH Psych. pt., Pt. PT P.T. PTA PUD PVD PVT PWB% Px, PX peripheral nerve injury pneuomothorax by mouth postoperative day positive posterior postoperative potassium proctology preoperative prepare for according to circumstances as often as necessary, as needed productive prognosis passive range of motion pronator, pronation prosthesis past surgical history Psychiatry patient physical therapy physical therapy, posterior tibial artery pulse prior to admission, peptic ulcer disease peripheral vascular disease previous trouble partial weight bearing with percent physical examination Q q q.h. q.i.d. qt. quad. every every hour four times a day quart quadriplegic R R,r R. RA rad. r.a.m. R.A.S. RAtx rbc/RBC RCA RCU RD RDS RE reg. rehab. resp. RF RLA R to L&A RLE RN RO, R/O ROM ROS Rt. RT RUE RV Rx right rub, rectal temperature rheumatoid arthritis, right atrium radial rapid alternating movements right arm sitting radiation therapy red blood cell, red blood count right coronary artery respiratory care unit respiratory distress respiratory distress syndrome reconditioning exercise regular rehabilitation respiratory, respirations rheumatic fever Rancho Los Amigo Scale react to light and accommodation right lower extremity registered nurse rule out range of motion, rupture of membranes, right otitis media review of symptoms right radiation therapy, respiratory therapy right upper extremity residual volume therapy, prescription S s without This list has been compiled as a resource for ASHA members. The list has not been officially reviewed or approved by ASHA and therefore may be modified as desired by speech-language pathologists or their employment setting. S Sa. s.c. SCD SCI schiz SCU sec Sens. sep. SGA s.gl. SH SI sib. SICU SIDS skel. Sl. SL SLP sm S.O.A.P. SOB S/P, s/p sp. cd. spec. sp. fl. sp&H spin. spont. s/s SS ST stat., STAT sensation, sensitive, serum saline subcutaneous(ly) sudden cardiac death spinal cord injury schizophrenia special care unit second sensory, sensation separated small for gestational age without correction (without glasses) social history stroke index sibling surgical intensive care unit sudden infant death syndrome skeletal slightly under the tongue speech-language pathology small subjective, objective assessment plan shortness of breath status post (previous condition) spinal cord specimen spinal fluid speech and hearing spine, spinal spontaneous signs and symptoms social service speech therapy immediately STD subcut. subling. sup. supin. surg. Sx sys. Syst. sexually transmitted disease subcutaneous sublingual superior supination surgery, surgical symptoms system systolic T T T&A tab. TAH TB TBI tbsp. temp THERAP. THR TIA TKR TNM TO TPN TPR tr trach tsp. Tx temperature tonsils and adenoids, tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy tablet total abdominal hysterectomy tuberculosis traumatic brain injury tablespoon temperature therapy, therapeutic total hip replacement transient ischemic attack total knee replacement tumor, nodes, and metastases telephone order total parenteral nutrition temperature, pulse, respiration trace tracheostomy teaspoon treatment, traction U U/A UCD UCHD urinalysis usual childhood diseases usual childhood diseases This list has been compiled as a resource for ASHA members. The list has not been officially reviewed or approved by ASHA and therefore may be modified as desired by speech-language pathologists or their employment setting. UG Unilat. u/o Ur. URD URI Urol. u/s, US UTI upward gaze unilateral under observation urine upper respiratory disease upper respiratory infection urology ultrasound urinary tract infection X x times Y y.o. yrs. years old years V V VA vag VC, (vit.cap) VD vent. vert. VF Via vit. VN VO VS, V.S. vein visual acuity vagina, vaginal vital capacity venereal disease ventilator vertical visual fields, ventricular fibrillation by way of vitamin visiting nurse verbal order vital signs W W w, wk W/C, wh.ch. WBT WF WFL WM w/n WNL WP wt. w/u white week wheelchair weight bearing tolerance white female within functional limits white male within within normal limits whirpool weight workup This list has been compiled as a resource for ASHA members. The list has not been officially reviewed or approved by ASHA and therefore may be modified as desired by speech-language pathologists or their employment setting.
